Editorial: Let voters decide on metro Indianapolis mass transit plan

This rendering shows a possible Downtown Indy stop for a new metro Indianapolis transit plan.

So here's an important question that the 50 members of the Indiana Senate need to ask themselves: How much do they trust voters to make prudent choices?

Each senator's answer to that question will largely determine whether House Bill 1011, which would allow voters in Hamilton and Marion counties to decide whether to build a regional transit system, makes it through the General Assembly this year.

The legislation, which passed the House comfortably last month, is scheduled to be heard in the Senate's local government committee Wednesday afternoon. The campaign to finally build a viable transit system in Central Indiana has attracted strong support from local government leaders, regional organizations such as the Indy Chamber and thousands of ordinary residents.

But the effort hit an obstacle this week when influential Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, withdrew his support of the legislation. Kenley, who previously had raised concerns about the plan's financing but was a sponsor of the bill, said he swung toward opposition after a majority of his constituents who participated in an online poll expressed concerns about the proposal.

It's hard to know what's more discouraging -- that Kenley would switch sides so late in the process, or that a smart, veteran lawmaker would apparently give so much weight to an unscientific poll.

Regardless, all that senators are really being asked to do is to give their permission so that local voters can determine whether they want to pay for a bus and light rail system. Even then, under the current legislation, local councils would still have to vote to increase any specific taxes if the advisory referendums passed.

The question remains: Will the General Assembly empower the residents of Marion and Hamilton counties to make their own decisions? Or will 50 state senators block tens of thousands of voters from even having a choice?